Episode 026 – Zacchaeus Pt 2: A Holistic Response

Key Passage(s): Luke 19:5-10

Following his encounter with Jesus, Zacchaeus’s response is utterly remarkable. He pledges to give half of his possessions to the poor and provide a fourfold restitution to those he’s wronged. He understands what a holistic response looks like, and offers an incredible pattern for us to follow in our lives as well.

Discussion Questions

  • What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
  • What surprised you most about Zacchaeus’s response?
  • What connections are you making within the Zacchaeus story, or in relationship to other stories in the gospels or in the Bible at large?
  • In the holistic approach of repentance, reconciliation, and impact, which one do you do the best? Which one do you need to improve?
  • In his forthcoming actions, Zacchaeus was going to have the opportunity to share his story of how Jesus changed him. In what ways has Jesus impacted you, and what opportunities do you have to share that story?
  • How will you begin walking out the truths of this teaching over this next week?
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13 Comments

  1. WJS July 31, 2018 at 6:20 am - Reply

    Good morning Brad,
    I’m enjoying this series. Thank you for your insight and hard work putting this together. I need help understanding the deeper meaning of scriptures tucked between the pages. With understanding these meanings I’m growing in my desire to become more like Christ and in doing so my love for Jesus has grown.

    Bill

    • Brad Gray August 3, 2018 at 5:17 pm - Reply

      So great to hear, Bill. Thank you for sharing that!

  2. Becky July 31, 2018 at 6:48 am - Reply

    Thank you for your obedience to teach!
    When thinking of all the taxes it struck me of the truly remarkable part of giving. I have complained in tithing when only taxed at most 25%. How tithing to the Jews is so much more an act of “faith” than just obedience.

  3. Susan Lutz July 31, 2018 at 8:06 am - Reply

    Hi, Brad –
    Love the repentance portion of this story. As you broke down the components, you discussed repentance as changing direction or getting back on the right path. I’d love to hear your thoughts about the need for brokenness and sorrow in repentance. Thank you!

    • Brad Gray August 3, 2018 at 5:16 pm - Reply

      Really appreciate this, Susan. In Episode 006 – “Returning to the Path” I talked about confession and repentance. Confession is when we come to the realization that we’re off the path, and repentance is when we take active steps to get back onto the path. For me, the “brokenness and sorrow” happen at the confession stage. If we aren’t broken and sorrowful for the poor decisions we’ve made, we’ll never confess fully what we need to, nor will we take active steps for repentance. So they’re essential to the process.

  4. Karl & Holly July 31, 2018 at 8:20 am - Reply

    Brad, Holly and I appreciated the point you made about “Impact” and how you tied it into the story. Just last week I was meeting with a man who came to the Lord in the past year and now feels he should go into ministry. Maybe, maybe not, maybe God wants him to be continue being a HS teacher and be a Godly representation of Christ in the school. Next time a discussion like that comes up I will take people to Luke 3 and 19 and talk about “Impact”.
    Questions (lots like I always have):
    Is it possible Zacchaeus repented in Luke 3 and he is now recounting that changed life to Jesus?
    Can you elaborate on the meaning of Zacchaeus name and how it fits into this passage?
    Do you think Zacchaeus was also taking responsibility to repay what the Collectors under him had cheated from people?
    Do you think Zacchaeus made his restoration commitment in front of anybody along with Jesus (would imply accountability after Jesus leaves)?

    • Brad Gray August 3, 2018 at 5:12 pm - Reply

      Great questions, Karl. I address Zacchaeus’ name in the next episode. So stay tuned for that one. And I’ll answer the others in the last episode.

  5. Todd August 3, 2018 at 7:52 am - Reply

    Brad, as always I’ve been enjoying your teachings and taking deeper dives into the context behind the passages. In a future episode, can you explain the meaning of Jesus’ response, “Today salvation has come to this house”.? What is the Jewish mindset of salvation? Today, we think of salvation as going to heaven rather than hell when we die but was it the same meaning in the first century? In my studies, I see salvation for the first century Jew as an immediate, here and now impact rather than something in the future. Any light you can shed on this topic would be helpful.

    • Brad Gray August 3, 2018 at 5:11 pm - Reply

      Todd, thank you for the question. I’ll address is in the last episode.

  6. Chelsea Kelter August 5, 2018 at 11:02 am - Reply

    Brad, I love what Susan brought up about the need for brokenness in the repentance process. Paul writes 2 Cor.7:10For the grief that God wills brings a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret. But the world’s grief brings death. Eugine wrote it this way in the message Bible: 10Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets. This is one my favorite verses and a verse I use often in therapy sessions. There seems to be a contrast between Judas (Matthew 27:3Then Judah, His betrayer, saw that Yeshua had been condemned. Feeling remorse, he brought the thirty silver pieces back to the ruling kohanim and elders,
    4saying, “I’ve sinned, betraying innocent blood!” But they said, “What’s that to us? You see to it yourself!”
    5After tossing the silver into the Temple sanctuary, he left. Then he went off and hanged himself.) and Zacchaeus who recognized Jesus as (6And having hurried, Zakkai came down and welcomed with Kabbalas HaMalchus (accepting his sovereignty as king) Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach with simcha (joy).) the King. Both men had an encounter with God in flesh, yet one dies in earthly remorse, and another gains forgiveness and life. Brad what are your thoughts on these two men. Note both dealt with money (interesting insight into man and greed). What did one lack compared to the other? The revelation of the 13 attributes(Ex 34) of God? In contrast, yehudah meaning to give thanks verses zakkai to be pure. Is there a remez or midrash to Job 9:30 to Gen:37:26?

  7. Tru Jackson August 5, 2018 at 4:15 pm - Reply

    I’m enjoying the teaching series.

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